Meet the Renegades Rogue Gallery

[Jim_Marconnet]

This thread is a Renegades Rogue Gallery to make it easier to learn and connect the names, faces, planes, interests, and schedules of the Alabama Rocket City Renegades.

Ideally this thread will contain just one post per person with basic information such as:

Who you are (photos welcome)
Where you live
Where you work or hang out
What you fly, generally and specifically (photos welcome!)
Where and when you typically fly
Your current good flying buddies
What you hope to build/fly next
Interests/Likes/Dislikes aka Why I Fly!
Special talents
If you want to meet & fly with others
Real organized clubs, if any, that you participate in
Memorable flying moments
Future plans or path, if known

One easy way to label and organize your info is to quote this post, then edit out the beginning and ending quote stuff and type in whatever you want under each heading. Feel free to add additional headings or delete some, of course.

Remember, anything posted here is visible to the entire world. So it's probably best to keep off phone numbers, addreses, email addresses, etc.

Hopefully we will each edit ours periodically to keep it up to date. The last edited date, if any, will be an indication how current the person's info is.

Moderators: After we get going good, please delete any posts outside the scope of this thread.

[Jim_Marconnet]

Who you are
Jim Marconnet aka rocket_jim because I'm a Rocket Scientist. But so is nearly everyone else who lives and works here in HSV.

Where you live
Horseshoe Bend Subdivision, Madison, AL

Where you work or hang out
Old SMDC building off Wynn Drive in Hsv
hang out at R/C Hobbies on Meridian St.

What you fly, generally and specifically (photos welcome!)
Slow Stick (no need to explain!)
Cessna 180 (speedy 3-channel)
BeginAir (aileron trainer)
Indoor Air Lark counter-rotating fan-type electric helicopter (fly in my family room!)

Where and when you typically fly
North Discovery Drive site (evenings/weekends).
Hope to come up with closer flying sites to home.

Your current good flying buddies
My son Scott. Also the Renegades when I can catch up with them.

What you hope to build/fly next
Atmopod VTOL aircraft http://www.metascope.com/atmopod.htm

Interests/Likes/Dislikes aka Why I Fly!
Prefer flying over building.
Looking for low-pressure fun flying with my youngest son before he grows completely up.

Special talents
TBD

If you want to meet & fly with others
Yes! PM me for phone, email, etc. I would also like to meet some flyers for lunch at ADTRAN. Perhaps we can get something regular organized.

Real organized clubs, if any, that you participate in
None, probably won't

Memorable flying moments
Scott buzzed my van in high wind at NG site

Future plans or path, if known
Fly what I have frequently now that I have several reasonable working planes.

[ghee-grose]

aka: Gary Grose

I work at UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Project Office on Redstone Arsenal.

I fly mostly in the huge field right beside my house. :cool:

R/C interests: 3D, aerobatics, slow flying, glow powered (40 sized), thermal flying (GP Fling), and my new love of SLOPE SOARING!!!! :D

***
ghee-grose - First initial "G" sounded out, last name. :rolleyes:

My avatar - That's me on the way home with more planes and R/C stuff. :D

[nitro125]

i live in the hazel green area witch is about 10 minutes notrth of huntsville

i fly a goldberg trainer.....hardly ever anymore / kaos 60 /twinstar with two 40s(its fast)/a tower hobbies uproar 60/and a flatana that i fly around my home here i have 8 acres to fly the flatana on but theres not enough room to fly my glow planes here so i usualy drive a mile down the road and theres a small country road that i fly off of and no cars ever come down it so its all good oh yea got a couple c/l planes too im probly gonna complete a great planes turmoil flatout next because my flatana has seen beter days

[Mars Flyer]

Who you are
Rob Suggs aka Mars Flyer.

Mars Flyer is the name of my Slow Stick. I started construction of it in January of 2003 on the night the Mars rover Spirit landed on Mars. I completed installation of the radio in it a couple of weeks later while watching coverage of the rover Opportunity land on Mars. Since the Slow Stick is red and was born during a Mars mission, I think it would be happy flying over Valles Marineris. The avatar is a picture of the plane.

Where you live
Madison, AL

Where you work or hang out
Work for NASA. Trained as an astronomer but work as an engineer. Hang out in my home office/workshop.

What you fly, generally and specifically
Been fllying for almost 2 years.
In order of acquisition: Firebird Commander (sold last year), Slow Stick (upgraded to GWS 400 motor), Easy Star, Gym Swallow, Tiger Moth 400, SmoothE, home-brewed canard plane (marginally successful), Mini-IFO. Also enjoy the big slimers and jets on Aerofly Pro Deluxe flight simulator. Virtual hangar with pictures and details at
http://www.knology.net/~suggs/planes/Suggs_RC_hanger.htm
Radio gear: Hitec Optic 6 and Flash 4 transmitter - Hitec 555 and Electron 6, Berg 5 DSP II, 2x GWS Pico receivers.
Also build and fly model rockets.

Where and when you typically fly
Before work, after work, Saturdays at Northrup Grumman site. Quality Drive site when I want to do touch and goes. Have flown Gym Swallow in neighborhood cul-de-sac. Fly at Horizon Elementary (Madison) occasionally if time is short in the evening.

Your current good flying buddies
The Research Park gang on this forum.

What you hope to build/fly next
Building v-tail verson of Gym Swallow.
Looking at Lazy Days or Bantam Bipe as Christmas plane.

Interests/Likes/Dislikes aka Why I Fly!
Keep going back to the calm slow flyers - kind of like comfort food. Enjoy stretching my skill envelope occasionally with slightly faster aileron planes. Especially enjoy the satisfaction of building from plans and flying the result.


Special talents
Make up for lack of flying skill with extreme cautiousness :D Interest in radio gear goes back to my ham radio background (KB5EZ).

If you want to meet & fly with others
PM or check the flying thread here.

Real organized clubs, if any, that you participate in
New AMA member. Would join a real club if I found an electric-friendly one.

Memorable flying moments
My maiden flight of the Slow Stick: elevator servo was reversed leading to broken prop. Removed pieces of prop and tossed the plane around as a glider learning to control it. Spent about an hour until it got too dark teaching myself basic skills and gaining confidence. Never had any serious problem flying since. Lots of time on FMS simulator helped as well.
Several memorable evenings just after sunset when the plane climbed out of the shadow and into the sunlight.

Future plans or path, if known
Continue enjoying the hobby.
Would love to see a better flying field with smooth runway - the faster planes are a pain landing on rough ground or streets with curbs.

[dee-grose]

Hi, I'm Andy...I'm Gary's brother.

I work at Adtran. I like flying just about all RC planes from my Slow Stick up to my big Oly 99 glider. Hope to get out and see you guys soon.

<<<===== Here's what I like doing now! :D

Andy

EDIT (11/4/08): I no longer work at Adtran. My avatar is no longer me sloping my Stryker.

[Tram]

Who you are: Jeff Williams.. Tram..
Where you live: Florence, Al
Where you work or hang out: Will start with Regions Air in January, just left Airline Transport Professionals. I hang out all over the place. :)
What you fly, generally and specifically: Eh, everything..
Where and when you typically fly: My backyard, when I get the urge.

I look forward to getting over to HSV and flying with some of you guys..

The pic is me and the better half in the belly of a C5A.

[dee-grose]

OK guys, I thought about something cool to add to this...let's post the "story" behind our usernames here on RCG and also a description of our current avatar. Here goes mine:

dee-grose -- dee comes from being the last syllable in my first name, Andy. Grose is my last name.

avatar -- that's me sloping my Stryker the first day. I was bringing it by on a close pass and had to jump back a little. Rob took a great picture so I had to use it for my avatar.

Come on ya'll, this should be enlightening....and entertaining!

Andy

[ghee-grose]

I just edited my above post to comment on my avatar/username.

[GLIDERGIDER]

Who you are: Jeff Williams.. Tram..
The pic is me and the better half in the belly of a C5A.

Tram,
You are beautiful, but who is the ugly guy next to you.

I'm sorry, I just could help that... :)

Dave

[ghee-grose]

Ha ha!!!! Good one Dave! :D

[Tram]

*EDIT*

My username is derived from my old AOL screenname.. TRAMSOOTRU.. If you can figure out what it means.. You are..

I then just shortened Tramsootru to Tram.. :D

My avatar is one of our goats, who got his head stuck in a gutter elbow. ;)

[GLIDERGIDER]

*EDIT*

My username is derived from my old AOL screenname.. TRAMSOOTRU.. If you can figure out what it means.. You are..

I then just shortened Tramsootru to Tram.. :D

My avatar is one of our goats, who got his head stuck in a gutter elbow. ;)

That is a funny picture.

[dee-grose]

I'm just gonna start calling you marT then :)

[nuevo]

Thanks for the pictures, Tram. I thought that was just some photoshop wierd sense of humor. ;)

tramsootru - I'd guess "Trans Am (something)"

[nuevo]

tramsootru - I'd guess "Trans Am (something)"

I am too stupid. :o

[ghee-grose]

don't feel alone... Andy had to hint me in on what it was. :D

[Tram]

You know, lots of people think the Trans Am thing, which when I got the screenname, I didn't own a Trans Am, so it really made no sense.. However, now I do drive a Trans Am, but it is as some of you figured out..

U R TOO SMART... backwards.. :)

[SU Jags]

Wallace
I live in North HSV
My job is making it through grad school :eek:
I fly at the field next to my apartment complex on Meridian St.
My next build is a Unicorn
I usually fly on the weekends; I fly a SS for AP and a Formosa
My avatar is the logo of my alma mater, Southern University.

[dee-grose]

Hey Wallace, nice to meet you. Man, you've got it made...living within walking distance of RC Hobbies?!?!? I'd be so broke it wouldn't be funny! Gary and I had Formosas as our first planes after our Aerobirds. Mine needs a little repair right now :)

Hope we get to fly with you soon!

Andy

[GLIDERGIDER]

As many of you know already, I'm addicted to slope soaring. There, I've said it. What are the rest of the 12 steps? I also enjoy flying big thermal sailplanes, which is the source of my RCGroups handle, Glidergider. I recently started flying a Slinger with a brushless motor. Thats a bunch of fun.

I belong to the club NASF, (North Alabama Silent Fliers). In fact this club elected me president last year. Our group flys 10 foot spanned planes launched by string tied to an electric winch. It a different style of flying, but truely rewarding. Recent excitement in our club is the planning of a Fun Fly that we anticipate to be mid June of next summer. Jon Stone will be our director and he has great plans. Anyway, the fun fly is for anyone who owns, is building, or plans to build an OLY2 sailplane. The OLY2 has a wing span of 8 feet. I'm getting ready to build mine sometime in January when it gets to cold to fly. Kits are available for $108.95 from http://www.skybench.com/ The plane is a fantastic beginner sailplane. It will go up on a gophers Phart. I hope some of you folks will get excited about this and will build an OLY2 too.

Here's the story of my Avatar creation. My college daughter and I went slope flying last year. She went mostly to enjoy the scenery. She also has a nifty camera. This camera will take moving gif pictures. So we spent some effort taking pictures of our shadows, after the flying part was done. She called it shadow dancing. The sun was very bright at the top of the hill, and the shadows were long with good contrast. After some experimentation, it dawned on me that I should mimic an launch while she photographed my shadow. That day is a good good memory. Amelia came home from college last week and looking over my shoulder she saw my Avatar and was thrilled that I'm still using it.

I've always enjoyed flying wings and that's because flying wings can take a beating. That makes them work great on the slopes too. {tick}

One plane I want to build in the future is an electric powered Canard winged airplane. A pusher probably. But, my next electric plane will be the WingThing. Todd and I are building a two plane squadrone. Below is a picture of my youngest and I on the day of first flight back in the year 2001.

Sign me
Dave, Davy, David Cuz Cousins

[Miderror]

Wallace
I live in North HSV
My job is making it through grad school :eek:
I fly at the field next to my apartment complex on Meridian St.
My next build is a Unicorn
I usually fly on the weekends; I fly a SS for AP and a Formosa
My avatar is the logo of my alma mater, Southern University.

Hello Wallace,
I use to fly in that area when I first got to HSV and was staying with a friend in Meridianville.
Be mindful that the Heli field is just behind A&M which I am a member of as well. I use to fly in the fields over by the Baseball diamonds but stoped when I learned there where $2000 helis flying just over the hill.
Take care and welcome aboard.

[dee-grose]

Dave, isn't that Tim's Oly in the NASF pic you posted?

[GLIDERGIDER]

Dave, isn't that Tim's Oly in the NASF pic you posted?
Andy,
Yes I think it is his OLY2. Thats a good flying airplane. Tim has really enjoyed that airplane and I watched him go from rank beginner/novice to intermediate sailplane jockey flying that bird. He still has that plane, but he's graduated to faster birds as well.
Dave

[SU Jags]

Miderror

The heli field is a concern. When I learned there was a club near by, I would drive by just to make sure no one was there flying. I have been here in HSV for about 18 months, and I have seen people out there maybe 4 times. Is there a specific time I should avoid flying? I have never received any RF interference, but I still dont want to shoot anyone down.

[nuevo]

Miderror is right about the heli club. They are an active longtime club. I flew with them over 15 years ago. You'd have to coordinate with them on frequency usage.

[Mars Flyer]

Dave,

Here is an interesting canard plane I saw in Tullahoma

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=618582

It is based on a Multiplex Soarstar which is a knock off of the Wingo. I talked with the designer/pilot at the Tullahoma event. I can PM you his e-mail if you'd like some advice from him. He has built several canards.

I'll get back to mine eventually. If flew but barely.

Rob

[Fyrwalker]

hey ya'll,
My name is Randy Townsend,Gary got me into flying planes last year at a friends birthday party in Athens, we was talking about flying heli's(at the time i was leaning to hover a JR venture 30cp) and he told me about the GWS Slow Stick.that started it all,now i have a relaxing hobby to share with the kids.
I'm also into ham radio(KI4DGR)and a member of the LIMESTONE ARES club.
I enjoy r\c flying and trucks too, i have a modified traxxas revo with a OS Max TM.18 engine in it.it will scream, ask Gary it'll do wheelies on command and i try to race it at Cullman and also in Gadsden at Thunderbird hobbies.
Hope to get to meet ya'll one day and fly all i have in the hangar is a slow stick, a dura-plane trainer 40 and a sweet stick 40 i'm in the process of finshing.
hope to see ya'll soon.

[Miderror]

Miderror

The heli field is a concern. When I learned there was a club near by, I would drive by just to make sure no one was there flying. I have been here in HSV for about 18 months, and I have seen people out there maybe 4 times. Is there a specific time I should avoid flying? I have never received any RF interference, but I still dont want to shoot anyone down.

I check in or drive by the local sight and use a Freq checker.
http://www.hobbico.com/fieldequip/hcap0340.html

They are very active when the weather is better and it is usually on the weekends but I have been out there weekday evenings and there are guys flying. Just keep taps on activity out there.
Take care,
Don

[atjurhs]

OK, here's my blurb..

My Username "atjurhs" is just a compilation of my first middle and last names, and I use it as my Username on most of the BBS and Forums that I frequent - helps with the fadding memmory :rolleyes:

My Avatar is obvious to anyone in there fifties, fourties and possibily to the younger folks as well - Zepplin's Swan Song. I tried to find a suitable Lynard Skynard's FreeBird JPEG for the Southern Rock-N-Roll thing, but was happy with the Swan Song.

BARF is sufficently explanied.

My interests in R/C Fyling is heavily weighted twoard Slope Soaring (as I did that a bunch as a kid in So. Cal, yes I am a USC Trojan as well) and E-ParkFlyers since there's lots of opportunities to do that wherever you look. BUT having said that I do have a "Full House" 110 inch WS sailplane named Grace that's itchin to get in the air.

I'm fortunate to have a beatiful wife (Frank can attest to that) and three spectacular kids ages 2 through 6. They are a handful. And I'm a Believer in Jesus Christ. If you'd ever like to talk about Christian issues, I'd certainly be willing to listen. I work as a RADAR Analyst in the Missile Defense industry briefing Colonels, Generals, and their Civilian counterparts relative to Missile Flight Tests.

My other interests lie in Rocketry where I am 1 of 1700 folks across the nation that hold a Level 3 Certification (only 5 in the State of Alabama) as well as the necessary ATF explosive user permits to mix my own propellants. I'm also the VP of the local rocketry club called HARA http://www.hararocketry.org/ (a shameless plug I admitt). My kids each have thier own collection of rockets which they love to fly.

Here's a couple of pics of me and my family, so that you can put a name with a face:

[ghee-grose]

Nice write-up Todd! :D

[atjurhs]

Oh, one other thing.

Just so I don't answer the question a ga-zillion and a half times (not that I mind), but the reason I shaved my head :eek: and don't look like I do in the picture is that a friend of mine is undergoing chemo and will loose all her hair - so I did too.

[ghee-grose]

Your head is shaved now? That is a nice thing to do for a friend.

[nuevo]

Hey Wallace. Nice to meet you. I missed your photos somehow until now. Hope to fly with you soon. I was so poor when I was in college, RC was completely out of the picture those years. They do have some nice fields on Meridian.

[GLIDERGIDER]

Dave,

Here is an interesting canard plane I saw in Tullahoma

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=618582

It is based on a Multiplex Soarstar which is a knock off of the Wingo. I talked with the designer/pilot at the Tullahoma event. I can PM you his e-mail if you'd like some advice from him. He has built several canards.

I'll get back to mine eventually. If flew but barely.

Rob

I love it! That looks really cool. Thanks for the link.
Dave

[Tram]

FreeByrd.. :)

This is from the movie, and may not be what you were looking for.. but.. if it is, here.. :D

If it is what you were looking for and need a jpg or want the "freebird" writing deleted.. let me know...

[atjurhs]

Thanks TRAM, that is a cool one, but I'm happy enough with the Swan Song now.

[Tram]

No sweat..

[Jim_W]

edited

[ghee-grose]

Sounds like you're a member now! :D

Welcome aboard! We are a friendly bunch here... hang around.

My brother (dee-grose) is on the Tech Support crew at Adtran... he may know of the products you speak of?

I like the AP pics... and the one of the family... (that's a BIG DOG!!!)

[Jim_W]

edited

[ghee-grose]

That's funny... I have a 11 week old puppy named Little Bit. She's half Black Lab and half Weimaraner. I'm sure the name will fit her in a few months about like it fits the dog in that picture.

I'll ask Andy about it.

[dee-grose]

Jim, that would be the guys across the lake from me...I'm in the Enterprise Networks division.

[Johnnie Paul]

Who you are:

My name is Johnnie Paul

Where you live:

I live in Toney up in northern Madison county

Where you work:

Dynetics, Inc. Industrial Automation Div.

What you fly, generally and specifically:

Slow Stick; DBPS...

Where and when you typically fly:

7AM?? :D

Your current good flying buddies:

The Renegades...

What you hope to build/fly next:

Blu Funder (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363570) scratch build; Velociraptor (Long EZ) designed by Steven Wong (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=428393) and made from 6mm Depron.

Interests/Likes/Dislikes aka Why I Fly!:

My interests have always been skyward, and I long to fly...not so much as a pilot, but as an RC controller...yeah, yeah yeah...a pilot too! :rolleyes:

Special talents:

I can scratch build, which is a hobby in it's self.

Memorable flying moments:

My memoriable flying moment was fairly recent...it was today, as today I flew for my 1st time, because of an invite from a friend. I have tried RC two other times before (Glow RC) and the start-up costs for me were so astronomical that I got discouraged trying to follow thru. I have now found a path I can handle, and I believe I am on the way.

when I have become an accomplished flier and builder, I would like to build and fly the Long EZ, and maybe some flying wings as well as some sloper birds...

Johnnie

[atjurhs]

The ME-262 and the P-51D mustang are definatly two possible birds to fly. But you may want to get a bit of SS time under your belt first :D

I think there is even a jet (called EDF) version of the ME-262. My jet plane of choice are the A-10 and the Mig-15. I should have a Mig very soon.....

Glad you joined us! You'll certainly enjoy time spent with this bunch of nuts, but Beth is not going to like your new hobby :)

[JoHowell]

Evening gents!

A lurker comes outa da closet.

Name's Jim Howell
Live in SE HSV

If it flies, I'm probably interested in it. Flew R/C sailplanes with RCRC back in the mid-to-late '70's. Was probably one of the first folks local to mess around with electric launch using Astro 05's and NiCad packs. Didn't fly much models for maybe 20 years. Too busy working and flying full scale sailplanes and golden oldie power like Aeronca's and such. Got back into modeling maybe 7 years ago with a rekindled interest in Free Flight endurance. That got me into the SAM movement with rubber power models like Gollywocks and such. Pulled the electric and R/C stuff back out and am on a track to try some of the electric events at the next SAM Champs. Went to my first Outdoor FF Nats this past summer and had a blast! If anyone's interested in some of the FF side of the hobby, just let me know and I'll try to work something out. Randy Moore, my OFB in both full scale and R/C sailplanes got on my case about restarting R/C sailplanes, and trying slope soaring. Have tried that once w/ Glider guider et al, and plan on being back. Not interested in combat, just like to fly and watch them fly. I've pulled out a couple of old models, a Skimmer 400, pulled out the Speed 400 and NiCad pack and have inserted a Multiplex outrunner and LiPo battery that I hope to have in the air in the next day or so. Also an old Mini-Challenger (Astro Flight design, now kitted by Spirit of Yesteryear) that is close to covering. Will have an outrunner and LiPo pack. Gonna try to reduce original design weight by more than 40%. If I can, it should be a honking electric launch.

Should say that I enjoy the building and working with the old materials as much as I like to fly.

[GLIDERGIDER]

A lurker comes outa da closet.
Name's Jim Howell
Live in SE HSV
<snip>and restarting R/C sailplanes, and trying slope soaring. Have tried that once w/ Glider guider et al, and plan on being back. Not interested in combat, just like to fly and watch them fly.
<snip>
Should say that I enjoy the building and working with the old materials as much as I like to fly.

Jim,
Glad that you've joined the gang. We have to get you back on the slope. I love watching them 'just fly' too.

In the meantime, anytime you want to meet for some electric flight a the new Publixs, let me know.

Hey, are you going to build an OLY2? Do it, we'll have some enjoyable fun flys.

[JoHowell]

Yes, I'll be part of the Oly II event. I suspect that I'll have the closest to the original Oly II on the field. I got a set of the RCM plans for the Oly II within a couple of months of it being published back in '78 +/-. Wings and tail feathers are built per plan. Poor thing got overtaken by the events of work, family and full scale flying. If I can just figure out how to rig the (*&^(*&^%^%$ spoiler servos in lieu of the klutzy string actuators that'll probably be my one deviation from Lee's original design. One other possible deviation is that I'm considering covering the surfaces with Polyspan rather than iron-on films like Moneycoat. I know that'll greatly increase the torsional strength of the wings. The FAI FF glider guys use it extensively for covered wings. I've used it a lot for my SAM rubber jobbies. I know it works. (Ever seen a 2"x3" open balsa structure fuselage have to resist upwards of 60 in-ozs of torque. It's almost as jaw-dropping as seeing one of the fuselages explode when the rubber motor blows without a blast tube inserted.) I'll probably be relegated to the side by all you guys' fancy mods, but it should fly slow and high like Lee's did some 30 years ago. I've got to pull out my old hi-start and see how badly the surgical tubing has deteriorated.

[ghee-grose]

Glad you signed in Jim! Looking forward to meeting you. :D

[atjurhs]

Hello Jim,

NASF has plenty of winches for use in getting OLY2s in the air, and I just got a high start two weeks ago that you are certainly welcome to use, so no sense in dragging out old surgical tubing that will snap and slap you in the face.

Although I am one of the guilty culprits making mods trying to turn an OLY2 into an AVA; personally; I would love to learn more about this polyspan method of covering.

Have you checked out the two OLY2 Build threads from myself and Larry?

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=450321

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=466236

You might find some interesting ideas in one of these two threads.

Also, I've included a few pics of the way some folks have managed to rig up spoilers "in lieu of the klutzy string actuators". Granted, that these pics refer to an AVA, but the methodology should work just as well for your OLY2.

Glad to have you aboard!

[JoHowell]

......

Although I am one of the guilty culprits making mods trying to turn an OLY2 into an AVA; personally; I would love to learn more about this polyspan method of covering.

Have you checked out the two OLY2 Build threads from myself and Larry?
....

I apologize for generating a "guilty culprits" comment. I'm going to be curious to see how an upgraded, Oly II wing performs. I know very well that the orientation and style of flying 25-30 years ago has evolved over the years with the advancement of materials and understanding about model aerodynamics. My Oly will be close to "original" not because I'm a nostalgic purist, but because that's the way it exists because it was built a long time ago and I'm too cheap to throw it away and buy/build one of Ray's kits.

The Polyspan is a close derivative of polyester dress lining. It isn't woven in the traditional warp/woof, bi-directional material sense, but it does have an interesting interwoven-like consistency. It is normally applied to a structure with full strength nitrate dope. Because it is polyester, it will shrink with the application of heat. Also, because it is polyester, it starts shrinking around 250 deg. F.; but around 380 deg. F, it abruptly changes and basically disintegrates. So, you apply the material to the structure, then apply heat starting at the 250 level, and make additional passes at higher levels to achieve the desired level of tautness. I usually strive to apply the material very smoothly, run a pass at 250, then another pass at around 300 or so. If I have a "problem child" set of wrinkles, I will gradually increase the heat up to 350 on subsequent passes. (I use one of the Century 21 thermostatic control irons. Because we use this on our full-scale Aeronca rebuild project, we have checked the calibration of the C21 thermostat and are really pleased with it's accruacy and small hysterisis temperature range.)

After shrinking, you apply nitrate dope, thinned to personal preference, to fill the material pores. I use a 25% nitrate 25% lacquer thinner, 50% nitrate dope thinner mixture. I normally use a minimum of 3 coats, and have gone to as much as 7 coats. The Polyspan has a "smooth side" and a "fuzzy side". With the smooth side out, it can be filled acceptably with 3 coats. Because there is controversy in the FF world about the relative merits of fuzzy in or fuzzy out, having the fuzzy side out seems to require at least 2 extra coats for my mixture proportions. The FF guys tend to want as smooth a lower wing surface as possible, but some like to have the upper surface relatively "rough" and so will apply the PS fuzzy in on the bottom and fuzzy out on the top.

Yes, I've been watching the Oly II build threads with interest. Especially the use of the Kevlar thread. Some of the FAI FF towline glider guys build solid spars and wrap with kevlar thread to keep it together. I've also seen it used to create tension diagonals in the rib bays.

Thanks for the pics. Is what you've shown me called a "4-bar linkage"? Jon Stone and ? tried to describe this to me after a club meeting, along with some quick sketches.

And thanks for the offer of a high-start. I'm inclined to take you up on the offer. Although I know we were using 12-volt winches back in the '70's, I think the current version of these must be higher torque motors than what we were using. I'm not inclined to try to get the extra altitude available using current winch-launch techniques. While I like to build, I get mad at myself when I overstress a model to the point of destruction that requires a re-build. I know they are all doomed anyway, but "no crash before it's time" seems good to me.

Jim

[goliathgrouper]

My name is Josh Borgert
I recently met a few of you slope gliding at the rock quary. By the way Mrbisset and I sloped the Green Mountain Cliff last weekend and had a blast, only hit the power lines 5 times. Then flew with stripped servo gears, it didn't really turn left very well after that. Dave, thanks for all of the help with giving Mrbisset and myself directions. My Picojet worked well. Still need to beef it up though. My screenname comes from a fish that was called a Jewfish but has recently been renamed a Goliathgrouper because Jewfish wasn't politically correct. I lived in Key West for 6 years and learned to fly by myself at the old seaplane base on Trumbo Point in Key West. Great place to fly, a huge cement playground. I love to fish and scubadive/spearfish.... That's where the name comes from. Last, I work for a small company called Aerodyne, we support the Army UAV program office mainly. By the way I am addicted to AP and recetly slope soaring.

[JoHowell]

Josh,

Glad to have you with us. By any chance while you were in Key West, did you ever run across a chap by the name of Dave Andreski? He's a free-flight oriented pal of mine.

[GLIDERGIDER]

Josh,
Great to have a new sloper in the group. You and MrBissett will be good additions. Glad to see that you went to the powerlinecut. Saw the vid and it was good. Let us know when you start thinking about buying a backup sloper. You will need it soon. Bad advice is free.
Dave

[ghee-grose]

Dink!

Wow, I dug up an old one. :D

[brivers]

I guess, as a n00b, I need to post up my pic and stuff here...

[dleviner]

you think this one is old.... remember this one Gary... the original group thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=372283

[ghee-grose]

THANKS ALOT David!!! Now I'm gonna spend hours looking back at all those good times. :p

I dare anybody to try to have as much fun as I did back in those days... ah yes, I can remember... working within a minute or two from any of the Research Park flying spots (all of which now are occupied by buildings). :D

Now for a looooooong walk down memory lane....

[Tram]

Wow.. That is an old thread, Dave.. I was still flying GLOW! :)

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3790559&postcount=36


Jeff
www.CommonSenseRC.com

[dleviner]

Those days ROCKED!!!! the early infancy stages of e-flight in Huntsville!!!

[ghee-grose]

Ok, how long did you spend "browsing"??? I looked through for about an hour...mostly looked at all the pics... which are some GOOD pics!!!